It took nearly nine months of space travel to reach the Red Planet and begin its mission of scientific exploration. In the year since,
Curiosity has driven more than a mile, “beamed back more than 190 gigabits of
data, including 70,000 images (36,700 full images and 35,000 thumbnails), and
its laser has fired more than 75,000 times at 2,000 targets,” according to
NASA. It has also accomplished its “primary goal by determining that Mars has
evidence of ancient environments suitable for life.”

The rover is currently on its way to Mount Sharp, a
three-mile-high mountain scientists hope can help shed more light on Martian
history.

Look for expanded coverage of the Curiosity rover mission
and the Anderson grads involved in Assets
Digital in early September.